Best option(s) for action shots with dRebel

[Paul_B]

For sports/action shots, I'm looking for the best way one might achieve with the rebel. For reference, they would be for my daughters soccer photos. Lighting would be daylight (from 8am to 6pm).
Bought the dRebel in Sept/04 with kit lens, it's taken a while. But I've learned a great deal over the winter, much thanks to this forum.
While I've learned the rebel wasn't the greatest choice for sports, I'm going to have to make the best of it. I now have my Sigma 70-200 2.8, and shortly should have the 1.4x tele.

From what I've learned, I have a few options.

1 - choose "sports mode" and let the camera do it. I get AI Servo, but jpeg only, and no other control.
2 - use manual/Tv, get control of ISO and white balance with no AI Servo.
3 - I have Wasia's hack installed, and from what I understand while not fully functional, you can press half way, release and press again quickly and get a shot. Been through my manual and the pdf I found for instructions on wasia's hack. How in gods name do you enable AI Servo to even test it.
4 - use this new "Unduchtables" hack, I think I read it gives you more custom fuctions under basic modes. Perhaps change ISO and white balance using "sports" mode.
5 - anything someone might suggest.

Anyhow, outdoor soccer is two weeks away. I would really like to be able to impress my wife and daugher (as well as other parents).
After the other toy's (lens, monopod, memory card), the rebel is it for this year. Any advise you can give to this newbie would be great.

Hopefully 20D for 2006 soccer, and I'll have a new list of questions :)

[Kiernan]

I use the unduchables. With it, you can set Sports mode to RAW. So, you get AI Servo, and the ability to digitally manipulate what the camera spits out.

While not ideal, this is the best I've found for my son's t-ball games.

[mdm]

I have 3 girls that just started soccer. I bought a drebel with kit lens. I want to get more zoom. I used the kit lens on their first game last weekend. I had the setting on sports mode and had to catch them when they were closer to the sidelines. A zoom would have made it better, I think. I' hoping to learn more too. The main reason to get this camera is to learn the settings and get great shots of the kids like at sports.

[mdm]

I thought I had this set right. I'll try again.

[mdm]

I'm having trouble getting this on here and looking good.

[tim]

mdm, when you save the JPG you need to use a lot less compression.

[Cadwell]

For action shots with the dRebel I would set it in Tv mode where you have full control of most of the parameters, set it to about 1/320th and then use one of the well know tricks to persaude it to drop into AI Servo AF.

These include a) achieving focus lock on something and then whilst keeping the shutter release half depressed turning the lens focus ring slightly or b) achieving focus lock on something and then whilst keeping the shutter release half depressed zoom in slightly by turning the lens zoom ring or c) achieving focus lock on something close and then whilst keeping the shutter release half depressed taking a step forward.

a) or b) is preferred as you tend to look slightly daft jumping back and forwards as required by c) ;) With a little practice you will be able to get the camera to go into AI Servo at will and it only takes a second or so to do it.

p.s. a) should only be used with lenses which are capable of full time manual focus (Canon USM and Sigma HSM) - b) only works with zooms (obviously)

[mdm]

new try at picture.

[intechpcx]

MDM - Recently I have been experiementing with sports shooting on my 300D. I don't have any hacked firmware installed so I'll comment only on what works best for me with the stock camera. I found that shooting in sports mode is best, simply for the AI Servo functionality. Shooting in Aperture priority or Shutter Priority both yielded disappointing results as the subjects quickly ran out of focus and any burst shots were totally useless.

The key I found was understanding how the dReb focuses when you're in sports mode. When you first set the focus (half shutter press) it will focus using the center focus point. However, as you hold it down to continue focusing (The AI Servo function) the camera will focus at any of the 7 points based on the same logic used in the auto focus point selection. I had to play with it for some time to get a feel for it, but this weekend at my daughter's soccer game I think I finally got the hang of it.

Of course, the other thing that helps out is having a fast lens with a quick focus motor. My Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 focuses very quickly so it is able to keep up with the action and what the camera wants to do. This is very important, I would never again attempt my Tamron lens for shooting sports as the focus is just to slow. Having the faster lens (in terms of aperture) is also helpful for the early morning or late evening games as it allows me to keep with shutter speeds up at 1/250 or better which for elementary aged players is usually enough to freeze the action adequately.

I hope all of that is helpful to you.

[cmM]

I've shot some sports with the rebel (without any hack). AI focus mode does take a little time before it starts tracking so that will reduce your number of keepers, but you can still get some decent shots.
http://www.cmuntean.net/images/sports.html <- most taken with the DRebel (manual mode, RAW)

[Tdragone]

One thing I have learned when shooting sporting events with my Drem and 70-200 F4L is to use Shutter priority and (Tv) and ISO to manipulate my Aperature of go into M mode.

I have F4 and some of those participating in this thread are F2.8

Just remember if your lens is going down to F4 or worse; F2.8 your depth of field plane is going to be SUPER thin!

The larger F stop you can get away with; the deeper (front to back) your plane of 'sharp focus' will be. This will give you more allowance with fast moving children.

Using what others like intechpcx have said about learning how your cam/lens behave + applying this info about DOF will help you tremendously in the future.

Hope this helps..

-Tom Dragonetti

[Jon]

The larger F stop you can get away with; the deeper (front to back) your plane of 'sharp focus' will be.
Technically, this is the smaller f/stop, which is the larger numbered f/stop. f/stop is the focal length divided by the lens aperture, so a smaller number means a larger aperture. "Larger" f/stops are the larger openings, not the larger numbers.

[Tdragone]

Sorry; When I think smaller/larger I think of the diameter of the pupil created in the lens.


-TD

[mdm]

Thanks for everones advice.

[Jon]

Sorry; When I think smaller/larger I think of the diameter of the pupil created in the lens.


-TD

If you mean the "smaller" diameter opening, that is also the "smaller" aperture, and the smaller aperture, not the larger one, gives greater depth of field (deeper (sic) plane of sharp focus). Just want to eliminate any possible confusion.

[Paul_B]

For action shots with the dRebel I would set it in Tv mode where you have full control of most of the parameters, set it to about 1/320th and then use one of the well know tricks to persaude it to drop into AI Servo AF.

Well thanks all for your suggestions, this one I didn't even know was possible. Tricking/persuading it into AI Servo in Tv Mode.

<- most taken with the DRebel (manual mode, RAW)
Had a look at your photos, nice. Do you also use some way of making the rebel use AI Servo.

Well, very soon I'll be taking photo's of our soccer team. Talk gets around, all the parents have heard I've bought this nice expenisive lens (sigma)(thanks to wife). With it being "digital", I can't claim I forgot to put film in the camera :/ Doing my best to be prepared.

[condyk]

Take millions of shots and capture lots of reasonably static 'action' like corner kicks and free kicks from reasonably close, full frame ... though remembering my school football we could hardly reach the penalty box with the ball from the corner flag :lol: :lol: :lol: At least you should get a couple of good n's while you experiment with some of the suggestions others have made. Kids faces can be great close up when they're waiting for the ball to arrive at corner kicks: bound to keep the wife and other parents happy.